Syrian security forces shot dead seven people on Friday, rights campaigners said, as protesters defied a nationwide crackdown by President Bashar Assad which world leaders condemned.

Three protesters were killed in the central city of Homs, another three in the Damascus suburb of Qatana and one in the town of Zabadani, near the border with Lebanon, they said.

Troops also fired at protesters calling for the “overthrow of the regime” in the eastern city of Deir al-Zor, a rights group and residents said.

Rights groups estimate at least 1,000 people have been killed over 10 weeks. Leaders at a Group of Eight meeting in France said they were “appalled” at the killing of peaceful protesters, demanding an immediate end to the use of force.

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